On September 1, GoPro announced a definitive agreement to merge with Starman Optical, Inc., a US-based optical photonics company. ^[1] GoPro CEO and founder Nicholas Woodman stated that the merger will enable the company to grow across consumer, commercial, and defense markets as a leading American imaging and optical solutions company. ^[2] The merger aims to rescue GoPro's struggling finances by repaying its existing $92 million debt and leaving the company largely debt-free. ^[3] The merger will position the combined entity to expand into AI data centers, government, defense, and aerospace industries. ^[4] The company's roughly $92 million in outstanding debt is slated to be repaid in full at closing, effectively delivering a debt-free balance sheet to the merged entity. ^[5] Under the terms of the agreement, GoPro shareholders are set to receive $1.14 per share in aggregate cash, subject to net working capital adjustments at closing. ^[6] YouTuber Mark Fischbach, widely known as Markiplier, filed a Schedule 13G with the SEC indicating he accumulated an 8.5% stake in GoPro. ^[7]